The dual admission partnership will offer eligible students at Jackson State access to faculty and facilities at both schools, including advisement opportunities, support services, libraries, computer labs and career services.

“This is another fantastic opportunity for us to provide a seamless transition for our students to move on to a four-year institution,” Hamilton said at the signing. “A lot of our students who decide to continue their education choose to do that at UTM, and it’s a great partnership, because they are close by here in West Tennessee.”

Carver said the agreement is important for his school because a significant portion of incoming students each year typically come from Jackson State.

“Most of our transfers each year come from our two-year college system that we have in the state, and the majority of those come from Jackson State and Dyersburg State,” Carver said. “And students who come from here are always prepared for our classes and curriculum, and typically thrive in our programs.”

The agreement is the latest in a pattern between the schools over the past year. The administrators have met to announce a plan to streamline the transfer process for JSCC graduates to transfer and not lose any credit hours. UT Martin also moved its Jackson center to Jackson State’s campus in the McWherter Center.

“That’s proven to be a great move for us, and we appreciate Jackson State and Dr. Hamilton for being such gracious hosts to us, and allowing us to rent the space here,” Carver said. “Everything we do is to help the students, and this is another step to do that.”

Reach Brandon Shields at bjshields@jacksonsun.com or at 731-425-9751. Follow him on Twitter @JSEditorBrandon or on Instagram at editorbrandon.

Dr. Keith Carver (left), chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Martin, and Dr. Allana Hamilton, president of Jackson State Community College, signed a Dual Admission Partnership Agreement on Sept. 10 to give students a clear transition path between the two institutions.(Photo: Submitted)